The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-01-05


The exhibit is apparently expected to
create prejudice on the part of people who
habitualy take superficial view of eco
nomic questions, against the theory of
protection to domestic industries which is
incorporated in the tariff laws of this coun-
try. OF course the items selected for illus
tration are the most extreme to be found in
the tariff schedules, and yet when fairly eX-
amined, they will be found to embody
strong argument in favor of the system
intended to be assailed The articles of
luxury enumerated are generally such as
are not produced in the United States at all,
or only to a limited extent. AS to the
former, they may properly be admitted free,
inasmuch as they come i'll competition with
no product of home labor, while duties on
the latter are high enough to afford reason
able degree of protection in behalf of enter
prise on the part of our own people. The
articles of necessity are all products of in
dustries pursued in this country which, if
not protected by high duties, would be
wiped out of existence or so depressed as to
make them practically valueess to those
employed in them. And it is to be noticed
that the market prices of these articles here
are so low as to put them within the reach
of everybody having need of them, domestic
competition being sufficient to insure that
result. Common wooden and cotton fabrics,
for instance, were never before as cheap as
they are now, and there is not single arti-
Gle in the list which cannot be procured at
reasonable cost, in some instances not in
excess of the rate charged for a similar
European product. The Coarser grades of
clothing can be bought in Troy as cheaply
as in London But they could not be eX-
cept for the tariff duties which make their
production possible in this country. If
foreign producers should obtain control of
the markets of the United States the people
of this country might expect to pay much
more than they do now for such articles of
necessity as are named by Mr. Moore. This
would be an inevitable consequence. As
matters stand foreigners are compelled to
pay literally for the privileges they now en-
Joy in the markets of this country. If Mr.
Moore could have his way they would be
enabled to tax our people enormously in
respect to every item designated by him as
an article of necessity. Even in regard &c
things which cannot be produced in the
United States the abrogation of duties does
not always insure lower prices, as has been
conclusively demonstrated in the cost of tea
and coffee. Enlargement of the free list
might be effective as a means of reducing
revenue, but il would not avail anything il
the direction of reduced cost to consumers
That is a lesson of experience which the
people of the United States will do well il
needing. 1t is certain that they can gaI
nothing by throwing their industries opeI
to the rivalry of ill-paid European labor
They would simply lose advantages now
possessed by them without securing any
compensation whatever. On the contrary
their folly could not fail to bring countless
evils in its train. The customs laws impos,
no perceptible burdens upon them which
would not be aggravated more than ten-folt
by any approach to free-trade through tn,
specious but deceptive pretense of revenu,
reform. If the tariff schedules need alter
alton it is in the direction of higher dutie
upon some descriptions of imported good
and the equalizing of others in such a wa,
to perfect their protective feature
through "A more diversified employment q
labor. That is precisely what European
manufacturers apprehend, and their protes
against the system of protection established
in this country indicates the extent to whic
they deem their interests involved.